Arcam chose the CEDIA Expo in Denver to announce the results of its most complex design project ever - the AVR600. Built to meet the challenges of an HD world head-on, the AVR600 sets new standards of fidelity for a home cinema receiver with an all new ultra low distortion power amplifier design, married to state of the art audio processing and video scaling.

The AVR600’s discrete styling hides a huge seven channel, 120wpc power amplifier and some of the most advanced audio and video processing ever seen in a high performance AV receiver. Arcam has built a world-class reputation for phenomenal audio and video performance through meticulous engineering and finely honed design expertise.The AVR600 AV receiver represents a tour-de-force of Arcam’s design skill and technical prowess. While most receivers are designed to provide an overwhelming list of specifications but are short on outright performance, the AVR600 is focused on the complete experience. Never before has an AV receiver delivered such a fine balance of state of the art sound and video processing backed up by an all encompassing technical specification.

Fully equipped for the high definition world, the AVR600 decodes the very latest Dolby Digital+, DolbyTrueHD, DTS High Resolution Audio and DTS HD Master Audio streams with phenomenal precision. With well over 100 input, output and control connections from simple analogue I/O to high speed HDMI, the AVR600 is fully equipped to deal with the most demanding of home cinema systems or custom installations. Sources such as DVD, Blu-Ray, set-top boxes, iPods® and games machines are all accommodated with ease.



Features and specifications

Analogue Audio

• 120WPC continuous power output into 4 or 8 ohms loads (all 7 channels driven at 1kHz)
• Stereo output power over 150WPC into 4 or 8 ohms, 20Hz to 20kHz
• Huge toroidal power transformer and high efficiency class G amplifier ensures ample power for even the most demanding programme material
• In 5.1 speaker setups channels 6 & 7 are assignable to bi-amplify front left and right or for use in Zone 2
• Audiophile quality components for best sound quality
• Multi-channel 7.1 analogue input for DVD-A or SACD sources
• Stereo direct mode bypasses and disables all digital processing for 2 channel analogue sources
• 9 stereo analogue inputs (including one MM phono input & front 3.5mm AUX input)
• Zone 2 stereo audio, from analogue inputs. Source and volume control independent from main zone
• Zone 3 stereo audio, from analogue inputs. Linked to Zone 2, but volume control independent
• DAB/FM/AM or FM/AM stereo tuner with 50 presets
• Sirius Home Connect compatible input
• Support for iPod via Arcam rLead / rDock (independent of RS232 connection)

Digital Audio

• State of the art Analog Devices ADSP-21366 & ADSP-21367 DSPs for Dolby Digital and DTS decoding
• Crystal Semiconductor 24bit 192kHz DACs, stereo ADC and precision electronic volume controls
• DolbyTrueHD, Dolby Digital+, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS HD Master Audio, DTS High Resolution Audio, DTS-ES Discrete, DTS-ES Matrix, DTS96/24, DTS Neo:6
• DolbyVolume processing for balancing of program material gain and tonal balance
• Adjustable crossover switching 40Hz, 60Hz, 80Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, 150Hz
• 8 digital inputs 4 rear optical, 3 co-axial, 1 front 3.5mm optical AUX input
• Global audio delay, adjustable from 0-1000 milliseconds, to compensate for video processing delays in digital displays and sources

Video

• 5 HDMI inputs (up to 1080p, Deep Colour)
• 2 HDMI outputs (up to 1080p, Deep Colour)
• 5 Component inputs, one monitor output (up to 1080i)
• 5 S-video inputs, one monitor output, 2 tape outputs
• 5 Composite video inputs, one monitor output, 2 tape outputs
• Full video up/down conversion & frame rate conversion of all inputs where technically allowed
• Video enhancements: Edge enhancement, Mosquito noise reduction, Random noise reduction, Block noise reduction

Custom Install Features

• Independent Zone 2 (audio & video), with fixed/variable volume
• Zone 3 audio with fixed/variable volume
• RC-5 remote input jacks for all three zones
• IR pass through for source components
• Full suite of discrete IR RC-5 codes, including separate on / off etc
• 12Volt triggers, on / off for zones 1, 2 and 3
• Full duplex RS232 control input for more complex control systems
• Optional network card

General

• Supplied with back-lit CR102 learning remote control with support for up to 7 other components and a huge on-board code library
• Large, high contrast dimmable VFD front panel display
• User switchable between 120 & 230Volt mains supplies
• Size – 435mm (17.1in) wide, 435mm (17.1in) deep, 185mm (7.3in) high
• Weight 25kg nett, 30kg packed

Using 6 layer PCBs and ultra high precision digital audio and video circuits, the internal design of the AVR600 is the culmination of thousands of man-hours of research and development work by Arcam’s world-class design team and represents the largest project ever completed by the company.

Cost: 5000$.